Appearance of Grey Gum Timber
Grey Gum heartwood is a deep red to reddish-brown, contrasting with its paler sapwood. The grain is typically interlocked, with a coarse but even texture, making it visually striking in applications where appearance and durability are both essential. Occasional grub holes add to its character and are a unique feature of this timber.
Common Applications of Grey Gum Timber
Due to its strength and durability, Grey Gum is extensively used in heavy construction, including poles, piles, railway sleepers, cross-arms, and mining timbers. It is equally suited to general construction, where it serves in building frameworks, flooring, and decking. Grey Gum’s durability and resilience make it ideal for landscaping, boat building, and butcher’s blocks, where it provides both aesthetic appeal and functionality for commercial and domestic settings.
Workability of Grey Gum Timber
Grey Gum’s density and interlocked grain make it challenging to work with, especially when dry. However, it machines satisfactorily with care. Grey Gum readily accepts paint, stain, and polish, allowing for a fine finish, and works well with standard fittings. As with other high-density timbers, machining and surface preparation should be done immediately before applying adhesives for optimal bonding.
Durability of Grey Gum Timber
Grey Gum is exceptionally durable, with an in-ground life expectancy exceeding 25 years and over 40 years for aboveground use. Its heartwood is termite-resistant, and the sapwood is not susceptible to lyctid borers. The sapwood readily absorbs preservatives, adding to its suitability for outdoor applications.
Origin and Availability of Grey Gum Timber
Kosny Timber sources Grey Gum from sustainably managed native forests across New South Wales and Queensland, where it is widely available. Its durability and unique appearance make it a top choice for demanding construction and decorative projects.
Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
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Tangential : | 7.0% | ||||
Radial : | 4.50% | ||||
Unit Movement Tangential: | |||||
Unit Movement Radial: |
Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium High | Medium | Reasonably Low | Low | Very Low | |
Unseasoned: | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 |
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Seasoned: | SD1 | SD2 | SD3 | SD4 | SD5 | SD6 | SD7 | SD8 |
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Structural No. 1 | Structural No. 2 | Structural No. 3 | Structural No. 4 | Structural No. 5 | |
Unseasoned: | F22 | F22 | F17 | F14 | F11 |
Seasoned: | F34 | F27 | F22 | F17 | F14 |
Seasoned: | 1050kg/m3 |
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Unseasoned: | 1250kg/m3 |
Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium | Low | Very Low | |
Unseasoned: | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
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Seasoned: | JD1 | JD2 | JD3 | JD4 | JD5 | JD6 |
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White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
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Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: | 110 MPa |
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Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: | 140 MPa |
Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: | 16 GPa |
Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: | 18 GPa |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: | 51 MPa |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: | 72 MPa |
Impact - Unseasoned: | 19 J |
Impact - Seasoned: | 21 J |
Toughness - Unseasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Toughness - Seasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Hardness - Unseasoned: | 10 |
Hardness - Seasoned: | 14 |
Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
(0 - 5 yrs) | (5 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
In-Ground: | ![]() | |||
(0 - 7 yrs) | (7 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 40 yrs) | (More than 40 yrs) | |
Above ground: | ![]() | |||
(0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 - 40 yrs) | (41 - 64 yrs) | (More than 60 yrs) | |
Marine Borer Resistance: | ![]() |
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: | Not Susceptible |
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Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: | |
Resistance: | Resistant |
1 - non-combustible | 2 - reasonably non-combustible | 3 - slightly combustible | 4 - combustible | |
Fire Properties Group |
Group Number - Other: | 3 if used on MDF or particleboard ≥12mm; veneer thickness 0.6-0.85mm |
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Average Specific Extinction Area: | <250 |
Bushfire Resistance: | BAL 12.5 and 19 – All AS3959 required applications |